KLANG: The price of fish in Malaysia could see a sharp increase if the current restriction preventing Zone A and Zone B fishermen from hiring foreign crew members continues, fishing industry representatives have warned.
Selangor Fishermen’s Association chairman Omar Abdul Rahman said the shortage of local workers willing to work on fishing boats has left many small-scale fishermen heavily reliant on foreign labour.
“There is a high chance the industry will be adversely affected, with prices surging indiscriminately due to the lack of manpower,” he said.
Omar noted that since pricing is determined by demand and supply, the reduced stock caused by fewer boats going out to sea would be a key factor in driving up prices.
“We have been constantly asking the authorities to allow Zone A and Zone B fishermen to hire foreign workers, but our pleas have gone unheard,” he added.
Omar explained that Zone A vessels are traditional boats using small nets (pukat jerut bilis), while Zone B vessels are larger and use both small and trawler nets (pukat jerut and pukat tunda).
Zone A boats are permitted to operate up to five nautical miles from the shore, while Zone B vessels may operate up to 12 nautical miles.
“Zone B trawlers yield the largest catch, while Zone A boats offer the best quality fish due to the type of net used,” said Omar.
Currently, only Zone C vessels, which are much larger, are allowed to operate up to 30 nautical miles from the shore, including into maritime border areas. These vessels are permitted to hire foreign workers.
Echoing this sentiment, Sekinchan Fishermen’s Association adviser Chia Tian Hee said the restriction has forced some fishermen to resort to hiring illegal foreign workers out of desperation.
When enforcement operations are conducted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) or the Fisheries Department, Chia said many boats do not go out to sea, resulting in reduced catches and higher prices.
Chia said while Malaysian waters are rich in fish, the dangerous nature of the job is one reason many local fishermen prefer to hire foreign workers to do the fishing.
According to Selangor MMEA records, 17 Zone A and Zone B boats, owned by Malaysian fishermen but fully manned by foreigners, were detained in 2024, with seven more detained so far in 2025 for similar offences.
Meanwhile, Selangor Fisheries Department director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said the restrictions on Zones A and B are based on valid and well-considered reasons.
She said Zone A and Zone B boat owners must hire only local workers, as the authorities do not want to deprive Malaysians of job opportunities.
“We also have to be careful not to become overly dependent on foreign labour, as the fisheries sector is an important component of our national food security chain,” she said.
Noraisyah also explained that the fishing zone system was introduced to prevent overfishing and protect marine resources.
“Fish is an important food source for our people, and we have the necessary procedures in place to ensure this resource is safeguarded,” she said.
She added that when prohibitions and regulations are introduced by the Fisheries Department, they are not implemented arbitrarily.
“They are backed by extensive research and studies conducted by our Fisheries Research Institute,” she said.
Noraisyah acknowledged that larger vessels in Zone C require more manpower, which is why operators are permitted to hire foreign workers in accordance with Immigration Department regulations.
